Ozzie Mozzie in doubt for season start.
I got this article from The Wall :?
Also this is a pic of the hit
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Morley in doubt for season start
Author: Daniel Briggs, Sydney Roosters
Monday, 10 November 2003
Roosters enforcer Adrian Morley is in doubt for the start of the 2004 NRL season following his sensational send-off in yesterday morning’s first Ashes Test in Wigan.
Referee Steve Ganson was left with little option but to dismiss the tough back-rower in his side’s 22-18 loss, following a high shot on Robbie Kearns in the first tackle of the match.
The popular Englishman was inconsolable in the change-rooms following the incident – after realising his dream of leading Great Britain to their first series win over the Kangaroos in over three decades was over.
Morley’s judiciary problems have been well documented, and he will be lucky to escape a lengthy suspension. Any suspension over two weeks will see the Roosters’ player-of-the-year miss the start of the 2004 season.
The tackle marred what was an otherwise sensational Test match, with the spirited Kangaroos overcoming a parochial home crowd and some questionable refereeing decisions to clinch victory in the dying stages through a try to skipper Darren Lockyer.
A scything 30m run from Roosters star Craig Wing proved the catalyst for victory, as he gifted Lockyer the match-winner with only five minutes remaining. Playing in the unfamiliar position of centre, the mercurial Wing came to life in the second half with a number of key line breaks. Lock Luke Ricketson also starred for the Kangaroos, pulling off an impressive 32 tackles.
Australia were the first to score after a 50 m sprint from halfback Brett Kimmorley set up his Sharks teammate Phil Bailey in the 11th minute to give the visitors a 4-0 advantage.
The Lions hit back just seven minutes later through a classy try to winger Brian Carney – the only Irishman in the Great Britain side – levelling the scores at 4-all.
In an exciting 5-minute passage of play, larger-than-life personality Willie Mason had what looked to be a fair try disallowed, and Great Britain centre Keith Senior bombed a certain try by passing into touch.
Continuing a dream year, debutant Trent Waterhouse crossed nine minutes before the break to give the Kangaroos a narrow 8-4 lead at the interval.
The continual failure of referee Ganson to get the British players to clear the ruck area visibly frustrated the Australians, and had a hand in the sin-binning of Roosters star Michael Crocker 10 minutes into the second stanza. Crocker retaliated after being hit with a cheap shot from Carney – who escaped any further action over the incident.
A knock-on from Lockyer allowed Senior to cross to give the Lions a 10-8 lead, before a penalty goal to Sean Long extended the home side’s lead to four.
However, just when Great Britain looked set to close out the match, a bullet-like pass from Kimmorley sent over makeshift five-eight Craig Gower to put Australia back in charge at 14-12.
Gower went from hero to villain in a matter of seconds, dropping the ball from the ensuing kick-off to give Carney his second try of the match. The try was not without controversy, as it appeared the Lions flyer had very little control over the ball when he crossed the line.
The Australians had not won the first test of an official Ashes series since 1986, and the trend looked set to continue before the classy Wing stamped his mark on the game to set up the winner for his elated captain.
The visitors were best served by Broncos hard-man Shane Webcke, and Knights hooker Danny Buderus, who both played their best matches in green and gold colours.
Forget the Rugby World Cup, the real footy has begun, and the stage has been set for a thrilling series.
AUSTRALIA 22 (Bailey, Waterhouse, Gower, Lockyer tries; Fitzgibbon 3/3, Gower 0/2 goals) defeated GREAT BRITAIN 18 (Carney 2, Senior tries; Long 2/4, Deacon 1/1 goals) at JJB Stadium, Wigan; Referee: Steve Ganson; Crowd: 24,614